Q: Is leaving a dog outside 24/7 illegal?
I, moved to California to be with my boyfriend. He lives with his mom and she has two small very old dogs outside in a large area. Gives them water every three days. Feeds them every five. Other then that they have no human interaction. They are left to their own devices. As for shelter they have 2 small houses they don't use. And barely any shade. Lots of hazards such as metal piping laying around and broken glass. As well as threats from snakes and coyotes. And with the heat reaching temps of 100° I don't find this suitable. Is this legal? Can I convince her to bring them inside so they don't die outside due to their older age?
A: What your boyfriend's mother is doing is not illegal, but it sure is inhumane. If your boyfriend can't convince his mother to clean up the mess and provide some shade and regular food and water, get a new boyfriend.
A:
If you are living there, it would seem that you or your boyfriend could give them food and water more regularly, and could take them for walks and bring them inside. You could also make sure that their outside housing is clean and free from pests.
Beyond that, you can make a complaint with Animal Control. It will investigate and determine if there is a problem of neglect or cruelty. As to whether you can convince her to bring them inside, you would know better than any stranger on the internet, since you know her.
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